Sensory workpieces

Workpieces are the focus of each manufacturing process and the origin of acting loads. Consequently, the signals measured at the workpiece can show a high sensitivity to mechanical and thermal loads. So far, workpieces have not been used to detect process loads in machining processes. Components such as spindle slides [1,2] and clamping systems [3], which are located near to the process zone and directly involved in it, are preferred for sensor integration in milling machines. In general, the signal Quality decreases with the increasing distance from the sensor position to the origin of the process loads. Therefore the workpiece is predestined as an information source for process loads.